The Mercury Mountaineer is a luxury SUV manufauctured by the Mercury brand. The Mountaineer shares many features with the Ford Explorer, and in terms of hardware, the vehicles are virtually identical. Externally, they are styled significantly different, and the Mountainer is positioned with a more upscale interior, with the Mountaineer's MSRP coming in at $1,000–$6,000 more than the Explorer. It was significantly redesigned for the 2006 model year due to a new frame, but looks similar to its previous model.

Unique Attributes

Resale Values

What's Best About Mountaineer

"In government crash tests, the Mountaineer received a four-star rating for the driver and a perfect five-star rating for the front passenger." — Edmunds.com

"...The Mountaineer has a far more distinctive style which Mercury describes as being inspired by 'modern architecture.' Whatever, it certainly doesn't look like anything else on the road." — Car and Driver

"Handling is excellent, as the Mercury feels predictable and stable in corners and higher-speed turns." — Edmunds.com

Criticisms

Poor Fuel Economy.

Generations

Third generation 2006-Present

2008 Mercury Mountaineer

For 2006, the Mountaineer was redesigned. This new Mountaineer was all new, though it closely resembles the previous model. The Mountaineer was mounted on a new frame, and it offered a more upscale interior, to make up for the cut Lincoln Aviator. This Mountaineer got new wheels and HID headlights, a feature not found on previous Mountaineers.

New Features also include H.I.D Headlighs and L.E.D Taillights, New Grille, New Wheels, New Liftgate, New Interior Design and Materials, New 4.6L Modular V8 DOHC with 292 Horsepower and 300 LBS-FT Torque, Revised Frame and Suspension, New Front and Rear Bumpers, Navigation System and Satellite Radio Systems are now available.

Second generation 2002-2005

2005 Mercury Mountaineer

For 2002, Mercury redesigned the Mountaineer. This Mountaineer was new from the ground up, offering even more luxury features than the last generation. This Mountaineer offered features like woodgrain trim, rear radio deck, and a rear seat TV/DVD player. Sales sped up drastically with the introduction of this generation, and it was a look ahead at the entire revamp of the Mercury line, to offer more luxurous looks and features. Some design cues found on this Mountaineer, like the waterfall grille and HID headlights, would go on to form Mercury's new signature look that would appear on all its models. This Mountaineer was also the first to not be based on the Ford Ranger.

First Generation/Origins 1997-2001

1997 Mercury Mountaineer

Although the redesigned Explorer had already been out for 2 years, Mercury introduced a Explorer twin called the Mountaineer. The Mountaineer was only slightly different from the Explorer, although it did offer a few extra luxury features that the Explorer lacked. First year sales for the Mountaineer were not exactly up to par with the Explorer. For 1998, so customers could differentiate the Mountaineer from the Explorer, as the front fascia was flipped upside down, and the headlights were made smaller, while it got a new rear hatch and unique wheels. Mountaineer sales sped up because of this, though they still lagged behind the Explorer. In 2000, a huge punch came to the Mountaineer with the Firestone vs Ford Motor Company controversy, where a large amount of rollovers were happening involving Explorers and Mountaineers. While Ford blamed Firetone's faunty tires, which had problems with the tread separating, Firestone blamed Ford, claiming that the Explorer and Mountaineer were unsafe. The case was settled, and Car and Driver proved that a large amounts of the rollovers were caused by the drivers overracting to the tire blow out.

Sale Numbers

In December 2007 Mountaineer Sold 1,920 Units Down22.8% From December 2006 .

For 2007 Mercury Mountaineer sold 23,849 Units Down19.3% From Total 2006 Sales.

Worldwide

The Mountaineer is only sold to the U.S. and Mexican Markets.

Design quirks and oddities

Like all Mercury's the Mountaineer uses a Satin Finish Front Grille.

Awards

Class Exclusive Roll Stability Control (RSC) System.

Consumers Digest Best Buy For 2006 and 2007.

The 2007 Mountaineer came in 3RD Place in J.D. Power Initial Quality For Mid-size Multiple Activity Vehicle .